Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-11-20
w. VA. FISH COMMISSION.
A Meeting at Romney-Secessity OF Carp
Characterization Fish
ErrhnDOs

CuIture-Americnn Fish
Exchange.
The Fish Commissioners of West Vir-
ginis held their Fall meeting at Romney
on October 6. The commission, as now
organized, is composed of the members,
Capt. c. S. White, of Romney, being pres
ideutT james H. Miller, of Summers coun-
ty, and F. j. Baxter, of Braxton county,
treasurer. Mr.. Miller is the recently re-
Gently appointed member.
The commission is unanimous in the be-
lief that carp culture is the only variety OF
inland fish culture which promises any
practical returns for labor and money ex-
pendeI, has determined upon Inaugural
ting the industry in a practical MANNER,
and is putting forth an effort to induce
| West Virginia tarmers to engage in the BUSH
ness with the same degree of system as
they do other branches Of their business.
They invited the editor of the Journal Of
Fish Culture and Rurdl hydraulics ~ be
present for consultation, and he made an
examination of the ponds, suggesting
modern American improvements. Con
corning this action the Hampshire RCcie1r,
a Romuey paper, says: The sum OF
$215 was appropriated TO repair, enlarge,
improve and provide with better sluices
and drains the ponds ~ Rooney, and
Capt. Milton p. PIERCE, of Philadelphia,
Secretary of the American Carp Cultural
Association, and a hydraulic engineer o!
of high repute, was employed to superln-
tend said work"
Capt. White, who,' by the way, is county
clerk aud one of the active business men
of Romney, has had considerable exper-
fence as a fish %Culturist, and has given
Capt. Peirce hearty cooperation in this
work, and, together Nth his colleagues, has
ShOwn the commissioners Of other States
arhat practical men can accomplish lcih the
smallest appropriation Of any State IN the
Union. They can ShOW the most perfect carp
ponds Of any state or territory IN the country.
There is, within about six miles OF ROm-
ney, q remarkable mountain gorge, run
ningi i q continuous straight line directly
north and south fer some ten miles, the
pent.up valley much of the distance being
but u few feet in width, the slope being to
the north. In this gorge there il a small
but equable cold stream of the purest
water, which is the natural habitat of brook
trout. At aslight expense this gorge can
be made a perfect ''sportsman's paradise"
for tie mountain range on either side is
we'll stocked naturally with deer, bears,
wild turkeys and smaller game, and by
constructing inexpensive little breaks and
dams at the numerous suitable points, a
continuous succession of practically natu-
raj trout pools of constantly acrated water
would be created, thus forming the finest
practicable trout preserve imaginable.
SpOrtsmen Of the leading c~itieH, and es.
p~ecially of New York city, eXpend large
sums of money in the purchase, fitting up
and maintenance OF game aud fishing pre-
serves. If the facts here alluded to were
known to the sportsmen of say Baltimore
and Washington, d. c., it is probable that
a club would be formed in less than q
month for the development of this une.
qualled natural game and fish preserve
within ten hours of their respective cities,
for the enterprise could be accomplished
at au insignificant cost. Another feature
in connection with the matter is the fact
that at the mouth of this gorge there is a
splendid sulphur spring, fully equal to the
celebrated Greenbrier White Sulphur
springs of this State.
Parties interested in such matters could
obtain all necessary information by ad-
dressing Capt. c. S. White, the State Fish
Commissioner at this point.